Album Releases

It’s new, yet nothing new; more of the same, yet different; it’s trusted like a good friendship that is gaining in depth and quality over time, yet is often taken for granted.This much could be said about the work of songwriter and singer Ad Vanderveen and his new offering ‘Final Refuge‘.With little fanfare and in a steady flow, this prolific writer produces groups of songs that seem to form their own unity and make up the story of an album. Just about every year a new CD is added to an ever growing catalog that started back in the early 90’s.

While his work is often compared to greats like Neil Young, BobDylan or TownesVan Zandt,Ad Vanderveen could well be considered one of the most obscure and reluctant superstars the world has never seen. Despite the size of – and high critical acclaim for – his artistic output both on records and in live performances he has maintained a low profile and, in his own words calls; ‘the inner eye a greater priority than the public eye’.

InFinal Refuge‘s lyrical content, spiritual and mystical themes alternate with more mundane affairs, covering subject matter that most serious and grown up music lovers could relate to like reflections on transience, love and faith, as well as more personal inquisition, self-knowledge and worldly philosophy.
The recording sessions were done in an intimate and interactive setting, with an acoustic combo or with just acoustic guitar. The performances have the inspired, in the moment and heartfelt immediacy that we’ve come to expect from Ad. “This is chamber music, made on the spot where most songs took shape and where they sound best”, he explains.

Where the previous album with the somewhat intriguing title ‘I Was Hank Williams‘ (2018) was characterized by a rather unconventional multitrack field-recording approach, ‘Final Refuge‘ is a well balanced and rounded whole, with a consistent atmosphere and rich ambient sound throughout.
Acoustic instruments like guitar, piano, upright bass, banjo, hang drum and percussion weave through the minimal chord structures that support the poetry always central to Vanderveen’s work.

“This album came about very organically, following the flow of the writing in a down-home atmosphere. Playing with my trusted combo (Timon van Heerdt – upright bass; Rene Kaaij – piano, hang drum; and Pete Fisher – percussion, production) was like a true homecoming and gave some of the pieces an improvisational touch. To top things off, harmony singing by Kersten de Ligny and some guest players on strings and horns enhanced the picture like a frame around a painting”, AV comments on the new album. Final Refuge is scheduled for release by ContinentalRose, a joint-venture between CRS Records and Blue Rose Records, on november 8 2019.

*****

“Ad Vanderveen sings simple songs. Songs about love, longing, wandering and coming home.
He performs these songs with their familiar images in an unpretentious, matter of fact manner.
His voice is a good one and his guitar playing is direct and honest. But we’ve all heard hotter licks and more acrobatic vocals. So, what makes these songs so unique and these performances so powerful?

We tend to associate depth with complexity when, in fact, it is only the simple things that have depth. The truth needs telling just once while a lie needs to be repeated and embellished upon over and over again.
You only have to hear Ad sing a song once to tap into its meaning and the feeling will grow stronger and deeper with more listenings. His music has an honesty and humility that is remarkable.

Denver Nevada is a place that is not real, it’s made up. But it is real in the sense that it’s an anagram for Ad Vanderveen. As for Still Life; all meanings of the term can apply in this case.
Desolation, serenitiy; scenes like in an Edward Hopper painting or a David Lynch movie or come to mind when listening to the singer-songwriter’s new album.
Existential themes such as solitude, longing and resignation are expressed throughout the lyrics.
But the album is also about the inexplicable and unstoppable drive and necessity to keep writing and creating.
Vanderveen can be counted among the most prolific songwriters in the new folk and roots genre, with an impressive number of albums to his name since the early 90s.

As a person and a craftsman Ad is mostly geared towards growth and development and he tends to keep away from matters not involving music or spirituality. Dealing with issues like name, fame and big sales numbers is not one of his priorities.
Among music lovers and critics, colleagues and peers however, he is highly regarded as a songwriter and musician; none other than Van Morrison, after hearing Ad’s album Worlds Within, personally invited him as his opening act in July 2017.
Another one of Vanderveen’s long-time favorites, John Gorka, joins on Denver Nevada’s lead off track in the duet Another Song.

Denver Nevada strikes a certain melancholy atmosphere and mood that underscore the poems and lyrics at the core of the songs. The style can best be described as contemporary folk with influences of rock, jazz and classical music. The songs and instrumentation are based on acoustic guitar and vocal; accompanied by piano, electric guitar, bass, percussion/drums, harmony vocals and augmented by strings and horns.

Ad’s previous album Worlds Within was hailed as a ‘classic’ in roots-americana circles and considered to be one of his best works. Fortunately the well has not run dry yet and those initiated say the sequel Denver Nevada will top the former one, journeying further and deeper into new territory and changing soundscapes. Ad Vanderveen keeps on challenging himself and the roots music audience!
.Denver Nevada is scheduled for release on february 16 2018 through CRS Records.

AV is in the final stages of recording a new album set for release early january 2018.
The record titled ‘Denver Nevada’ features 11 new compositions.
The follow up to Worlds Within journeys further into new territory and changing soundscapes.
The music can be described as contemporary folk with rock, jazz and classical overtones.
The lyrics and poems deal with such existential themes as desolation, longing, resignation and, of course; love, both on a personal level and a universal one.
Arrangements and instrumentation are based on acoustic guitar and vocal, accompanied by piano, electric guitar, bass, drums/percussion, and augmented by strings and horns.

Ad Vanderveen’s reflective musings give his songs a quiet charm that’s all but irresistible, one reason his work makes him the absolute epitome of an accomplished acoustic bard whose tools of the trade come in the form of a guitar, a melodious voice and a songs flush with heartfelt sentiment. Happily then, his lovely new album, Worlds Within, stays true to that template, a sensitive yet stirring folk-infused set of songs that’s rich in sumptuous melodies and astute observations. It’s exceptional as always, and these sublime soundscapes offer ample reason why that judgement is beyond reproach. There’s any number of affirmative examples herein — the melodious album opener “Worlds Within,” the sweet, serendipitous “Sinking in Doubt,” the gleefully optimistic “Mystery — but in truth it would be hard to single out any song that didn’t maintain an obvious air of optimism. Still, those looking for a standout song or two would be well advised to check out one of the more tender tracks like “Impossible Love” or the jaunty “Changing Like the World,” an example of upbeat optimism from one whose supple musings are generally cast in meditative mode. Better yet, sample “Bigger Picture,” an absolute anthem of optimism.

Worlds Within represents the latest chapter in a 40 year career that’s seen Vanderveen quietly plying his craft for a dedicated group of fans and devotees both here and abroad. Those who have interest in catching up with his earlier efforts would be best advised to check out 2015‘s two disc anthology, Presents of the Past/Requests Revisited, an excellent collection that culls tracks from several of his earlier efforts. Suffice it to say that those looking for a calming respite from a chaotic world could do no better than to allow Vanderveen’s songs to serve as the soundtrack.

How do you promote a discrete and introspective piece of work? You don’t, really. You can only make an announcement and hopefully notify those who might be interested. Here goes:

At age 60 singer-songwriter Ad Vanderveen realizes more than ever that writing is primarily a personal necessity; it’s between him and the universe and a small but devoted fan-base is welcome to listen in.

Vanderveen has been a musical adventurer for well over 4 decades, exploring and following his muse wherever it takes him. This time this path led to acoustic improvisational songs with a contemplative mood and atmosphere.

‘Worlds Within’ is an album of poetry and music in motion, in the sense that it consists of poems set to music with an improvisational approach. Some of the songs turned out like compact folk tunes, while others seem to lose track of time and venture way beyond the usual 3 to 4 minute time span.

The lyrics have a personal and philosophical character and the music breathes a contemplative and mystical atmosphere, rooted in an earthy acoustic folk style.
“These songs started out private and personal, as songs do, and together with some great musicians we made what you could call a record of contemporary folk with some jazz and classical overtones.”

Ad Vanderveen has built up an impressive catalog of CDs over the past decades. In 2017 this will be augmented by ‘Worlds Within’, his 30th record release of new originals.“Having just come from inside of this new music it’s tempting to go into superlatives. Of course it feels like the best I’ve ever done, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it.
But the truth is I don’t have any perspective, I traded that in for unconditional love and care in crafting it. All I know is that it comes from a very deep place”. AV October 2016.

Starting with a record company quote:“AD VANDERVEEN: for more than 20 years this renowned Dutch singer-songwriter has been one of the most consistent and reliable artists on the roots rock/Americana scene.Hardly a year goes by without a release from him, some years there may even be two CDs or a double album.”This year is no exception; we would like to announce the release of Ad Vanderveen’s new CD ‘The Stellar CellarBand’. With this record Ad delivers ten new songs in a no frills cellar room recording, fronting an electric 3-piece rock band.

Parallel to this release on Blue Rose Records, an independent limited-edtion CD will also be available called: ‘TheBarn Basics’. This Cd features the same songs in an acoustic setting, featuring Ad with his long time partner and musical companion Kersten de Ligny.

The schizophrenia between electric and acoustic music runs throughout the history of popular music and no less through AV’s career. It’s two distinctly different listening experiences that seem to appeal to different audiences.

That’s why, even in this time of declining Cd sales, we want to offer both options;

The Barn Basics is for a layed-back acoustic listening mood,The Stellar Cellar Band is for a more energetic electric band listening mood.

Blue Rose Records releases a double CD by songwriter/singer/guitarist Ad Vanderveen on May 8 2015.
One disc consists of new songs and is titled: ‘Presents Of The Past’.
The other disc contains newly recorded audience favorites entitled: ‘Requests Revisited’.

As the titles suggest there is a connection between the two and they seem to go together like a kind of concept album.
The listener gets an inside peek into, and an overview of, the musician’s life and work over a 40-year career.
The record has been a year in the making and has all the marks of what they call a ‘career-defining record’

The basis for the new songs on ‘Presents Of The Past’ was recorded live with an acoustic combo in a small theatre without an audience.
The songs breathe an atmosphere of timelessness, rich with roots music influences and traditional instruments.
The M.O. of ‘Requests Revisited’ is more of a studio production with arrangements for band, strings and guest musicians.

The common thread throughout both discs is acoustic under-and-overtones, with musicianship always serving the lyrics. The arrangements are sparse yet effective, with upright bass, percussion, guitars, keyboards, banjo, accordion, harmony vocals and even a gospel choir.

Vanderveen comments: “It started with the idea to re-record the requests I’ve been getting at live shows through the years, since many of those songs are not available on CD anymore.
It almost felt like I was covering myself, but during the work on ‘Requests’ the new songs also kept coming. They seemed to have more of a vintage-roots character to them and asked for a slightly different approach”

‘Presents Of The Past / Requests Revisited’ has no A or B side.
For those already familiar with Vanderveen’s repertoire the new songs may be the main focus.
The uninitiated may first be drawn to the ‘Requests’ for an overview of the singer-songwriter’s oeuvre.
In each case this can be considered a milestone in the work of one of today’s finest artists in the Roots/Americana genre.

Ad Vanderveen’s new CD “BEAT THE RECORD” has been released on March 1 2014.
It’s a collection of twelve songs penned over the past two years, recorded in an acoustic solo setting.
This time Ad followed his muse so quickly and directly that his original demo recordings overtook the process of record making.
The CD contains nine new original AV songs and three co-writes with Nashville natives David Olney, JohnHadleyand Thomm Jutz.
Honoring timeless folk tradition, Ad focuses on the songs and their content, with arrangements and production left sparse.

“A lot of the songs have to do with deepening personal philosophical and spiritual insights. This is an ongoing process and I like to think it’s where I grow and come home.
It involves themes like love and loss, despair and hope, melancholia and humor, things we all know and move through”, says the 57 year-old singer-songwriter.

Asked about how BEAT THE RECORDcame about he explains:

“I had plans to go to Nashville to cut this record and started out recording the songs for myself first to see what I had. These recordings worked so well to my ears that the studio plans got side-tracked. The whole usual process of record making was bypassed, so to speak. These takes reminded me of casual and unposed pictures and doing it again would feel like a reproduction.”

BEAT THE RECORDis Vanderveen’s 20th CD release since he started out as a solo artist in the early 1990s. His songs have garnered him high praise from fans and critics all over the world and won him loyal audiences, both in the old world and the new.

“LIVE AT CROSSROADS” is a solo performance for Crossroads Radio, a roots and Americana station in The Netherlands. In an intimate theatre show Vanderveen features songs from his critically acclaimed 2012 CD “Driven By A Dream”, as well as older favorites. The solo setting makes for intense deliveries, focusing on the content of the songs in a relaxed interaction with the audience. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, harmonica, footstomp and piano, Ad moves between sensitive songs, uptempo pieces and piano ballads. Sit back for this one and enjoy an evening of pure and honest acoustic music.

“LIVE LABOR”, the sequel and counterpart to “Crossroads”, shows another side of Ad Vanderveen in a rocking show with his long-time garage band The O’Neils. On tour in Germany in the spring of 2013, Ad and his band rip through an energetic set of songs, old and new, propelled by an enthousiastic audience. Alongside compact song versions there is plenty of electric guitar improvisation and frenzied jamming on themes like “Well Of Wonder”, “Water Under The Bridge”, and the new and previously unreleased “The Abyss”. Get into a sweaty trance for this one and turn it up!

Introducing the new AV & THE O’NEILS Live CD: “LIVE LABOR”

A sequel and counterpart to the lately released “Live At Crossroads”
Where “Live At Crossroads” is an intimate acoustic solo performance,
“Live Labor” captures the rocking electric and improvising band spirit.

This is a diptych of authorized bootleg soundcarriers, high-quality live recordings in a limited edition.

“Live Labor” tracklist:
1 Time Has Told 4.15
2 Driven By A Dream 4.20
3 Days Of The Greats 4.12
4 Wouldn’t That Be A Shame 4.20
5 Water Under The Bridge 12.43
6 Will And Testament 3.54
7 Satisfied 7.09
8 Well Of Wonder 10.43
9 Soul Power 10.00
10 The Abyss (new/unreleased) 10.01

The CD features a live solo performance recorded for Crossroads Radio, a Roots/Americana show hosted by Jos van den Boom in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands.
It is a high quality recording (thanks to Kees Aerts) with a fine selection of repertoire.

The tracklist reads as follows:

1 The Long Way Round
2 Faithful To Love
3 Uphill
4 Driven By A Dream
5 Rest In Peace
6 Wouldn’t That Be A Shame
7 The Moment That Matters
8 Cloud Of Unknowing
9 To Say I Love You
10 Good Mourning
11 Will And Testament
12 New World In The Morning
13 Calm Before the Storm
14 Well Of Wonder
15 Soul Power

This is a limited run for fans and followers only, no regular release or download.